LAS VEGAS – After a lackluster loss in his second UFC outing, Tyrone Woodley returned to the win column in the most emphatic way possible.

In a slugfest with veteran Josh Koscheck, Woodley’s fists did most of the talking. And by late in the first, Koscheck was looking up at the lights.

The welterweight bout was part of the main card of today’s UFC 167 event at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and MMAjunkie.

Woodley, who was outpointed by Jake Shields in his previous outing, sent Koscheck to the deck early with a big punch. Forced into survival mode, Koscheck stuffed him against the fence and waited things out.

After being separated, Koscheck returned fire with a stiff right hand that wobbled Woodley. But as he chased down another exchange, he was caught coming in with a right hook that took his legs from under him.

Woodley hit Koscheck again as he flopped to the mat, and referee Herb Dean called off the bout at the 4:38 mark of the first round.

Afterward, Woodley (12-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) implored UFC executives Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta to give him a performance bonus in time for the holidays.

The Strikeforce vet returns to the form he was in for his UFC debut, where he knocked out Jay Hieron at UFC 156. Koscheck (17-8 MMA, 15-8 UFC) has now lost three straight, and his career could now be in jeopardy.

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